On October 7th 2009, Zoe Damacela, a Career and Technical Education Entrepreneurship student, presented business plans for her company, Zoё Damacela Apparel, in NFTE’s 4th Annual National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York. Zoe competed against the nation’s top 30 young entrepreneurs to have her business chosen by the panel of industry judges, composed of CEOs, founders, and vice presidents to win a business start-up grant.
Zoe placed second in the competition, earning her a $5,000 start-up grant. Not only did she receive start-up funds, but she traveled with two other NFTE winners to Washington DC to meet President Barack Obama, who praised them all on their accomplishments.

In addition to her success at the NFTE competition, Zoe’s business was recently featured by ChicagoBusiness.com (click here to see the video).

Zoe created the winning business plan for her clothing company that she started when she was 14 years oldin her CTE Entrepreneurship Program. Zoe plans to use the knowledge she has gained from her Entrepreneurship program and the money she won to expand her business this year by hosting two additional fashion shows this year and eventually open her own business. In addition to her successful business, Zoe plans to attend Rhodes Island School of Design after graduation. To find out more about the Business and Finance programs and to learn how you can enroll please check out the Business and Finance Program page.

Congratulations Zoe!!!!